Leaving a steady job to pursue a dream is always a risky idea. When your dream is to become a professional athlete, the deck is stacked even higher against you.

That is the situation Royal Oak resident Eric Wohlfield faces, as one of many golfers at the Michigan Open chasing the dream of becoming a full-time professional golfer.

When Wohlfield, 33, decided to leave his job as a golf professional at Oasis Golf Center in Plymouth, he made up his mind to go all-in for his PGA dreams.

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He finished tied for second in the Michigan Open at Orchard Lake Country Club in 2010, showing he has what it takes to hang with some of the best golfers in Michigan. On a national level, he qualified for the sectional round of the U.S. Open in Springfield, Ohio, at the Springfield Country Club, but ultimately failed to make it.

Currently, as he heads into the final day the 2013 Michigan Open Championship presented by DTE Energy, Wohlfield is tied for seventh at 7-under-par and will need a big day to catch leader Tom Werkmeister.

As he works toward his long-term goal, he spends as much of time as he can working on his game. Wohlfield does not have a home course to play regularly, but spends time hitting off of mats and working on strength training. He also tries to enter as many tournaments as he can. Last year, the Brighton native helped coach the Brighton High School junior varsity team and also gave private lessons on the side.

Since his move to Royal Oak he has stopped coaching, and is focusing on tournament play. But, he knows that without a sponsor, life as a professional golfer can be expensive.

"I'm trying to work and impress somebody so they could put a little money behind me because I don't get a ton of tournament rounds. The average tournament cost about $250 with travel and expenses, so a sponsor would definitely help," he said.

As he continues to shoot for his dream, he said he realizes he does not have forever to achieve it. But for now, as long as he's healthy, he's going to try.

"Until I feel either the body go or the mind go, I have to keep going at it. I know the rounds I can shoot," he said.

Without a set schedule or a spot on a golf tour, Wohlfield said he does feel some pressure to shoot as low as possible each time on the course. He said concentrating on his routine while he's playing helps him eliminate a sense of pressure while on the course.

Off the course he leans on support from friend such as U.S. Open alternate and Grosse Pointe native Ryan Lenahan, and long time caddy Woody Longeway.

If his professional golf dreams fall short, Wohlfield said he can fall back on his psychology degree from Hope College or continue teaching golf. But for now, he has a several plans in place to continue his professional career depending on the amount of sponsorship -- he's just waiting for the opportunity.

"I'm going to try everything I can to not give up. You never know if that angel is going to come by and sponsor you. And that's what I'm looking for," he said.